Pollution control device

ABSTRACT

The invention described herein is made up of a closed tank, which is made to contain water. Flue gases are directed into this tank. Water is sprayed into the flue gases prior to entry to the tank. This water entrains all solid material which falls into the water in the tank and is cleaned out periodically. The matter entrained in the water in the tank floats over a partition into a second compartment where it is skimmed, and the scum is directed into a fire box of the furnace. The effluent water from the second tank is supplied to the sprayer and sprayed into the incoming flue gas as aforesaid.

United States Patent 1191 Di Prospero 1451 Sept. 11, 1973 l l POLLUTION CONTROL DEVICE [76] Inventor: Peter Di Prospero, 814 W. 25th St., Erie, Pa. 16502;

[22] Filed: Sept. 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 182,620

7/!970 Stokes 55/223 7/l966 Bellis .55/223 Primary Examiner-Kenneth W. Sprague Assistant Examiner-James C. Yeung Attorney-Charles L. Lovercheck 5 7 ABSTRACT The invention described herein is made up of a closed tank, which is made to contain water. Flue gases are directed into this tank. Water is sprayed into the flue gases prior to entry to the tank. This water entrains all solid material which falls into the water in the tank and is cleaned out periodically. The matter entrained in the water in the tank floats over a partition into a second compartment where it is skimmed, and the scum is di rected into a fire box of the furnace. The effluent water from the second tank is supplied to the sprayer and sprayed into the incoming flue gas as aforesaid.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEU SEPI I I973 SHEET 2 (1F 4 INVENTOR. P ER 0/ Pro span 0 PAIENTEI] SEN H973 sum 3M4 INVENTOR.

PETER I Pkosreneo 1 POLLUTION CONTROL DEVICE STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION The pollution control device described herein is for the purpose of arresting smoke, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and other gases at a position 20 feet above the flame of a furnace. No stack is necessary, and no solid material goes into the air. The device reburns solids; rock salt and soda are injected into the water, which washes the gas; and the solution of rock salt and soda is sprayed into the stack gas. The tank is of double thickness and condenses gases and settles the solid material from the smoke.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an improved pollution control device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pollution control device wherein the flue gases are washed and the solid material from them is rebumed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pollution control device which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efficient to use.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a part of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of another part of the invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view similar to FIG. 1 of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Now with more particular reference to the drawings, a stack which may be connected to a furnace or other source of flue gas is shown. The stack is connected through the insulated elbow 11, and the elbow 12, to the tank 13, which has a top 14. The tank has a partition 15, which extends from the bottom up to the position spaced below the top 14 at the water line 16. The bottom 17 of the compartment 18 is inclined toward the inlet 27 to line 26 so that the fly ash and sludge flows toward inlet 27 anddrains through line 26 to filter 60. Water to the tank compartment 18 is supplied by the city main 19 and is controlled by the valve 20. The water overflows the top of partition into the compartment 21. The tank has a ladder 22 for use by workmen and has manholes 23 and 24 for easy access to the inside of the tank and also has a'manhole 25. An air vent 26 is provided for venting air and gases from the tank. Solids like fly ash, carbon and other solids may be drained from the compartment 18 from time to time or continuously through the line 26 by way of inlets 27 from compartment 18 and from inlet 28 from compartment 21 through drain valves 29 and 30. An

indicator 31 is supported on the cable 32, which rides over a sprocket 33, and has a float 34 connected to its end. The float regulates the position of indicator 31 to indicate the level of water in said tank.

A skimming trap 35 is connected to the end wall of the tank, and the skimming trap has acoarse mesh screen, for example, one-fourth inch to threesixteenths inch mesh, which allows scum from the top of the water in compartment 21 to pass into pipe 37, which may be opened and closed by valve 30. The pipe 37 is a rebum line, which connects through valve 40 and line 65 to the fumace where the tar, oil, and other burnables are consumed.

The strainer mesh 41 strains the finer solids from the liquid that passes through line 42 by way of valve 43 to connect to the high pressure pump 44 where it is directed through vertical pipe 45 and through spray collar 46 into the incoming stream of smoke. This cools the smoke and drops the solids. It will be noted that the elbow 11 is lined with fire brick as indicated, but after the smoke passes, the water streams from a spray collar which directs water inward, the smoke is cooled, so that the line 12 need not be insulated. The spray heads 46 are connected inside the elbow 12 to assist in changing the direction of the smoke and reducing the pressure drop as it passes through the elbow 12.

The motor 50 drives the pump and directs a salt solution from tank 52 through valve 51 into line 45.

The water from pipe 26 may be directed into the sand filter 60 by valves 29 and 30 from whence the filtered water may be recirculated into the system by a suitable pump.

The embodiments of the invention shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show a stack which may be connected to a furnace or other source of flue gas. The stack is connected through the elbow 11 1 and elbow 112 to the tank 113 which has a top 114 and an inclined bottom 117 to direct solids toward line 126.

Elbow 112 has an end 112' which terminates below the level of partition 115 and consequently below the surface 116 of the water. The tank has a partition 115 which extends from the bottom up to a position spaced below the top 114 at the water line 116. The water from the compartment 118, which is supplied by the water main 119, is controlled by valve 120 and the water from spray head 146 and from line 119 overflows the top of the partition 115 into the compartment 121. Water is also filtered by filters 171 and 172 driven by pump 170 and passes through line 153 into compartment 121. The tank has a ladder 122 for use by workmen and has manholes 123 and 1.24 that are covered with a glass plate so that the inside of the tanks can be viewed and the collection of sediment therein can be observed.

Manhole 125 in the top of the tank permits access to the inside of the tank. An air filter or purifier 156 is connected to the top of the tank 121 as shown. The water purifier 171, driven by pump 170, discharges water into the space above the water line 116 by way of pipe 153 and filters and circulates water from the lines 126 to the top of the tank. Filtered sludge is discharged at 173.

Float 134 which is supported on cable 132 rides over sprocket 133 and carries the indicator member 131 on its lower end. This will indicate the level of water in the tank at any time.

A skimming tank 135 is supported on the end wall of the tank and covered by wire mesh 135'. The rebum line 137 connects to the inside of the skimming trap 135 through valve 140. Skimming tank 141 has a mesh screen 141' over it and is connected to pollution control line 142.

The pollution control line 142 connects to the skimming trap 141 which has a bronze mesh wire screen 135' over it. The chemical tank 150 and the tank 152 are connected to the pollution control line 142 through valves 151 and 151'. The valve pipe 137 is a rebum line which connects through valve 140 to the furnace. Sludge collected in the bottom of the compartment 118 is filtered out by water purifier 171 and 172.

The line 145 connects from the high pressure pump 144 and directs water through the spray head 146 into the incoming stream of smoke. The air jets 167 supplied air from pipes 165 and 166 and from air compressor 164 blow cold air into the incoming stream of smoke and water sprays from member 146. This induces the flow of hot gases and cools the hot gases. The entire elbow assembly is supported on a structural member 170 of suitable strength and design.

The water circulates through the strainer 141, line 142, and spray head 146. Water from tank 113 is cleaned and the sediment settles on bottom 117 from which it can be removed by filter 171 and 172 at 173. Therefore, the same water recirculates through the systern.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A pollution elimination device comprising a vertical stack connected to a burning means,

a closed tank having side walls, a top, bottom, a partition in said tank,

said partition extending from the bottom to a position spaced from said top and dividing said tank into a first compartment and a second compartment, said stack being connected through the top of said tank to the interior of said first compartment and terminating below the level of said partition,

a water main connecting water into said tank to maintain said water level in said tank,

a rebum line,

means connected to said reburn line to skim floating sediment from the top of said water in said second compartment and return said sediment to said burning means,

a pollution control line,

a spray collar in said stack above said tank,

means for straining said water in said tank and spray? ing said water through said spray collar from said pollution control line,

a high pressure pump in said pollution control line for directing said water from said pollution control line to said spray head.

2. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said means for spraying water into said flue gas comprises a collar around the inner periphery of said stack,

said water being connected to said collar and spray means in said collar directing said water inward.

3. The device recited in claim 1 wherein the bottom of said first compartment of said tank is inclined downward and toward a filter.

4. The device recited in claim 1 wherein a chemical tank is provided and means is provided to direct a chemical from said chemical tank into said pollution control line,

and pump means for directing a chemical from said tank into said high pressure pump.

5. A pollution elimination device comprising a vertical stack connected to a burning means,

a closed tank having side walls, a top, bottom, a partition in said tank,

said partition extending from the bottom to a position spaced from said top and dividing said tank into a first compartment and a second compartment,

said stack being connected through the top of said tank to the interior of said first compartment and terminating below the level of said partition,

a water main connecting water into said tank to maintain said water level in said tank,

a rebum line,

means connected to said reburn line to skim floating sediment from the top of said water in said second compartment and return said sediment to said burning means,

a pollution control line,

a spray collar in said stack above said tank,

means for straining said water in said tank and'spraying said water through said spray collar from said pollution control line,

a high pressure pump in said pollution control line for directing said water from said pollution control line to said spray head,

the bottom of said first compartment of said tank is inclined downward and toward a filter,

said filter is connected to.the bottom of said first compartment and is adapted to direct water from the bottom of said first compartment to the top of said second compartment.

6. The device recited in claim 1 wherein air jet means is provided in said stack,

and air pressure means is g the air jet means.

7. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said stack includes an elbow which connects said stack to said tank.

provided to force air into 

1. A pollution elimination device comprising a vertical stack connected to a burning means, a closed tank having side walls, a top, bottom, a partition in said tank, said partition extending from the bottom to a position spaced from said top and dividing said tank into a first compartment and a second compartment, said stack being connected through the top of said tank to the interior of said first compartment and terminating below the level of said partition, a water main connecting water into said tank to maintain said water level in said tank, a reburn line, means connected to said reburn line to skim floating sediment from the top of said water in said second compartment and return said sediment to said burning means, a pollution control line, a spray collar in said stack above said tank, means for straining said water in said tank and spraying said water through said spray collar from said pollution control line, a high pressure pump in said pollution control line for directing said water from said pollution control line to said spray head.
 2. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said means for spraying water into said flue gas comprises a collar around the inner periphery of said stack, said water being connected to said collar and spray means in said collar directing said water inward.
 3. The device recited in claim 1 wherein the bottom of said first compartment of said tank is inclined downward and toward a filter.
 4. The device recited in claim 1 wherein a chemical tank is provided and means is provided to direct a chemical from said chemical tank into said pollution control line, and pump means for directing a chemical from said tank into said high pressure pump.
 5. A pollution elimination device comprising a vertical stack connected to a burning means, a closed tank having side walls, a top, bottom, a partition in said tank, said partition extending from the bottom to a position spaced from said top and dividing said tank into a first compartment and a second compartment, said stack being connected through the top of said tank to the interior of said first compartment and terminating below the level of said partition, a water main connecting water into said tank to maintain said water level in said tank, a reburn line, means connected to said reburn line to skim floating sediment from the top of said water in said second compartment and return said sediment to said burning means, a pollution control line, a spray collar in said stack above said tank, means for straining said water in said tank and spraying said water through said spray collar from said pollution control line, a high pressure pump in said pollution control line for directing said water from said pollution control line to said spray head, the bottom of said first compartment of said tank is inclined downward and toward a filter, said filter is connected to the bottom of said first compartment and is adapted to direct water from the bottom of said first compartment to the top of said second compartment.
 6. The device recited in claim 1 wherein air jet means is provided in said stack, and air pressure means is provided to force air into the air jet means.
 7. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said stack includes an elbow which connects said stack to said tank. 